Combination lock



July 4, 1939. J. PFE'NDNER 2,165,057

COMBINATION LOCK Filed Jan. 3, 1939 9 Sheets-Sheet. l

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My .1939- J. PFENDNER 2,165,067

COMBINATION LOCK Fild Jan. 3, 1939 9 Sheets-Shee't 2 July 4, 1939.

J. PFENDNER COMBINATION LOCK Filed Jan. 3, 1939 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 4,1939. J. P-FENDNER commune LOCK Filed Jan. 3, 19:59

9 Sheets-Sheet 4 y 1939. J. PFEVNDNER 2,165,067

COMBINATION LOCK Filed Jan. 3, 1939 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 5:75 w 5 M e! July4, 1939. PFENDNER 2,l5,067

COMBINATION LOCK Filed Jan. 3, 1959 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Fig/J 55 b w 1 14ywil T I] I f J40 ,i I I 156 filllghg, lfllllllll 1| 146 J51???Pf'erzarzez July 4, 1939. J PFENDNER- 2,165,067

' COMBINATION LOCK Filed Jan. 3, 1959 9 Sheets-Sheet y 1939. J. PFENDNER2,165,067

COMBINATION LOCK 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 @7872 PfeIZdReI",

5 lia/ im July 4, 1939. J. PFENDNER COMBINATION LOCK Filed Jan. 1939 9Sheets$heet 9 tween 0000 and 9999.

Patented July 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE Application January 3,

21 Claims.

This invention relates to a combination lock which is adapted forvarious uses, such as, for example, to lock steering wheels of vehicles,safe and vault doors, strong box covers, and the like.

The main object of the invention is to provide a combination lock whichcannot be unlocked by anyone who does not know the combination and whichis so constructed that the combination cannot be ascertained bymanipulation of the parts.

Another object is to produce a combination lock provided with novelmeans to be actuated manually for operating the locking means, saidmanually actuatable means consisting of ten '1 depressib-le keys marked1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

and 0, respectively, a certain number of which must be actuated,successively, in the order in which they appear in the combinationselected, to operate the lock, both for locking and unlocking the parts.

In the embodiment .of the invention herein shown and described, I havedesigned the parts for a four digit combination, and. the lock shown maybe set for any combination of numbers be- To look or unlock the parts,the user must depress, successively, four keys corresponding to the fourdigits of the selected combination. However, the lock may be designedfor combinations other than four digit numbers, as will be made clear inthe following specification, and such changes are within the scope of myinvention.

Another object of the invention is to produce a lock which may be set bythe owner to respond to a combination selected by him, and in which theparts thus set are inaccessible excepting to one who knows thecombination and first unlocks the lock and then disassembles certainparts to expose the combination setting means. The lock cannot bedisassembled before certain parts have been unlocked by actuating thekeys which correspond with the numbers of the combination.

Actuation of a wrong key, or of a greater or lesser number of keys thancalled for by the combination, or of the right keys in the wrong order,or simultaneously, will not operate the lock and will not enable theoperator to either lock or unlock it.

The drawings show my combination look as embodied in a steering wheelfor the purpose of locking the wheel and steering column together, butthe lock may be used for locking parts othe than steering wheels.

The construction of the several parts of my 1939, Serial No. 249,037

lock will be described first and then the operation of the parts will beexplained.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my combination lock, embodied in a steeringwheel.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the lock, with the cover plate removed.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken in theplane of the line 33 ofFig. 2.

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are horizontal sectional views taken in the planesof the lines 4-4, 55, 6-6 and l-l, respectively, of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the lock supporting plate and parts,taken in the plane of the line 8-8 .of Fig. 3, looking upwardly.

Figs. 9 and 10 are perspective views of part of the mechanism shown inFig. 2, in different positions.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of another part of the mechanism shown inFig. 2.

Fig. 12 shows perspective views of disassembled parts of Figs. 9, l0 and11, namely, the button operated levers.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged sectional view taken in the plane of the linel3l3 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 14 is a transverse section taken in the plane of the line M-M ofFig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a plan view .of the pulling ring shown in perspective inFigs. 9, l0 and 11.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged elevation of part of the combination transferring, shown in plan in Fig. 21.

Fig. 17 is a plan view of the combination setting ring.

Fig. 18 is a sectional view, on the line |8-l8 of Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is an enlarged sectional View, taken in the plane of the line19-49 of Fig. 17, showing one of the combination setting devices.

Fig. 20 is an end view .of the parts shown in Fig. 19, as viewed fromthe line 20-20 on Fig. 19.

Fig. 21 is a plan view of the combination transfer ring.

Fig. 22 is a vertical section taken in the plane of the line 2222 ofFig. 21.

Figs. 23 and 24 are perspective and bottom views, respectively, of alock nut.

Figs. 25 and 26 are perspective and top plan views, respectively, of thecombination unlocking ring.

Figs. 2'7 and 28 are perspective and top plan views, respectively, ofthe combination lock ring.

Fig. 29 is a perspective View of the combination transfer ring.

" 6| and bottom 62 by screws 63.

ing 69 on base 59 protrudes below the housing Fig. 30 is a perspectiveview of the combination setting ring and setting devices. 7

Figs. 31 and 32 are perspective and bottom plan views, respectively, ofthe transfer ring.

Fig. 33 is a sectional view, taken in the plane of the line 33--33 onFig. 31.

Fig. 34 is a perspective view of the lock base.

Fig. 35 is a perspective view of the locking bolt member.

Fig. 36 is an elevational and sectional view, showing the parts of Figs.31, 25, 26, 29, 34 and. 35 assembled.

Fig. 37 is a vertical sectional view and Fig. 38 is a horizontalsectional View taken in the planes of the lines 31-31 and 38-38,respectively, on Fig. 36. V

Fig. 39 shows the assembly of Fig. 36 but viewed from a differentposition.

Fig. 40 is a perspective View of the lock nut bolt;

Fig. '41 is a perspective view of the transfer ring operating knob,bottom side up.

Fig. 421s an enlarged perspective of a cam and locking'tooth'whichispart of the mechanism shown in Figs. 36, 37 and 38.

In'that embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the steeringwheel 45 has a conventional housing 46 mounted in its center, in whichis mounted my lock mechanism. The housing 46 is rotatably mounted on asleeve 41 whichis integral with or rigidly and permanently secured tothe steering column 48. The sleeve 41 has a grooved collar 49 in whichare ball bearings 59 and the bottom of the housing 46 rides on the ballbearings in said collar 49. The sleeve 47 has teeth 5| on its upperedge. The dotted lines 52 and 53 indicate the complemental shape of thetop of the steering column 48 and part of the sleeve 41 when they arenot made integral,

but are fitted together and rigidly connected to-' and on the key56, andis held immovably on the post. The bottom of the lock base has adepending, square housing 69 which fits into the square opening in thebottom of the supporting plate 6| which rests on the bottom 62 inside ofthe steering wheel housing 46, as shown in Figs. 3 and 8., Thelock base59 is screwedto the plate The square housbottom 62. I V V The hub- 58ofthe lock base 59 has formed on its outer surface two guideways 64opposite each other, said guideways extending downwardly through theoffset 65 to receive the arms 66' of a toothed-locking bolt member 61.are arcuate in cross section to fit against the walls of the hub 58 andslide in. the guideways 64. The belt member 61 has a square base whichfits 'within the housing 69 formed on the bottom ofthe lock base 59.teeth 68 on its bottom surface which mesh with the teeth 5| of thesleeve 41 on the column 46 when the steering wheel is locked. The boltmember 6! has a keyway 69 to permit the member 6? to be mounted on thepost 55. by slipping over I The arms 66 Said square base 61 has ticallyin the stationary lock base 59 and on hub 58, to move the teeth 68 intoand out of engagement with the teeth 5| of the sleeve 41, as will bemore fully explained.

In the offset part 65 of the lock base 59 is mounted a spring pressedcam and lock tooth 19, best shown in'Figs. 34 and 42. It consists of ashank having a lock tooth and'cam 12, the shank part being mounted in ahole in the part 65 of the lock base 59, with a coiled spring bearingagainst the under side of the cam 12. A brake i4 is attached to the lockbase 59, as indicated in Fig. 5.

In Figs. 29, 3639 is shown a combination transfer ring 75 which bears onthe groove 65' ofthe part 65 of the lock base 59 and is rotatable onsaid base. It has a coiled spring 16 secured to for positioning acombination setting ring 89.

(Figs. 17 and 30).

The combination setting ring 89 has 49 holes 8!, and intermediate theholes are radial grooves 82. The 40 holes are divided into ten groups,each group being numbered from 1 to 4, inclusivef This particularcombination setting ring 89 is arranged for a four digit combination,with a choice of any numbers between 0000 and 9999. These ten sets ofnumbers are located adjacent the inner edge of the ring and the numbers1 to 4 of each set run anti-clockwise. Another *set of numbers appearsadjacent the outeredge from 1 to 9, inclusive, and 0, and these runclockwise.

Four combination setting devices are identical, and one is best shown inFigs. 19 and 20. It consists of a rectangular housing 83 having twoupright, apertured arms 84. -A shaft 85 having a' lever 86 is mountedrotatably in the apertured arms 84. A spring 81 is coiled on the shaft85.

and has one end connected to the top of the lever 86 and the other endbears on the middle of the top of a drop lever 88 which is pivoted at 89to the housing 83. The free end of the drop lever 88 moves in a slot99in the housing. Fixed on the end of the shaft 85 is a hooked lever 9|for engaging the drop lever 88 and holding it up until the lever 86is'swung from the solid line position to the dotted line position ofFig. 20, as will be explained in. the explanation of operation. Thehousing 83 is connected to the combination setting ring 89 by means of abolt 92 rigidly connected to the'bottom of the housing 83 and extendingthrough the ring 89 and held by a nut 93. in a groove Won the ring 89.The positioning of the several devices 83 for setting the combinationwill be fully explained later. 7

The ring 89 has two small gauging holes 94, one near the outer, edge andthe other near the inner edge, for'engagement with the pins 19 on thering 15 when the two rings are assembled and screwed together by screwswhich extend through some of the holes 8| in ring 89 and registeringholes 95 in the ring 15.

Before the ring 89 is mounted on the ring 5,

I position on the shoulder 65 of the lock base 59,

a combination lock ring 96 (Fig. 27) which is screwed tightly on saidbase 59, and slightly overlies the combination transfer ring 75 andholds it Each combination setting device 83 is seated the under side ofthe ring and to the base 59. r

down on the lock base 5965, but permits said ring to rotate. The lockring 96 has a square notch 91 cut in its bottom flange 99 (Fig. 28) toaccommodate the lock tooth H of the spring pressed member 19, located inthe lock base 59-95. Said bottom flange 98 is slotted at 99, and thevertical wall of the ring 96 has ten uniformly spaced notches I99 on itsupper edge, one edge of each notch being perpendicular and the otheredge extending at a 45 angle.

In Figs. 25, 36-39 is shown the unlock ring I9I which has on the underside of its narrow bottom flange I92 a pin I93, which pin extends intothe slot 99 of the lock ring 99 when the unlock ring I9! is placedwithin the ring 93. On the upper surface of the bottom I92 is a pin I94.Said bottom flange I92 is cut away at I to accommodate the member 19when the parts are assembled. The pin I93 of ring I9I, moving in theslot 99 of ring 96, limits the movement of the ring I9I. The ring I9Ihas ten cam shoulders I96 on its upper edge.

A transfer ring I91 (Fig, 31) surrounds the hub 58 of the lock base 59,also the arms 66 of the locking bolt member 51 (the arms being in theguideways 94 of the hub 58), and a lock nut bolt I98 which fits andmoves vertically between two ribs I99 on the hub 58 of the lock base 59.The transfer ring I91 has on its bottom two radial grooves II9, whichalternately engage the tooth 'II to prevent turning of the transfer ringas long as said tooth H is engaged. On the circumferential wall of thering I91, near the bottom, is a flange I I I cut away at I I2, the cutaway part accommodating the pin I94 on the unlock ring I9I. Thus thetransfer ring I91 can turn in the unlock ring IN a distance as long asthe cut away part I I2 into which the pin I94 extends, and after thetransfer ring I91 has come into contact with the pin I94 at the end ofthe initial movement, then the continued turning movement of thetransfer ring I91 moves the unlock ring I9I in the lock ring 96 adistance equal to the length of the slot 99 into which the pin I93extends. At the end of said movement, the transfer ring is locked by thetooth II entering one of the grooves I I9 in the ring I91.

The transfer ring I91 has in its circumferential wall two oppositelyinclined and oppositely positioned cam slots I I 3, and a third inclinedslot I I4. When the transfer ring I 91 has been placed over the hub 58,arms 99 and bolt I98, screws II5 are screwed into the holes H6 in thearms I55, with the heads of the screws located in the slots II3. (SeeFigs. 36-39.) The pin 111 on the bolt I98 extends outwardly through theslot II4. When the transfer ring is rotated manually, the screw headsII5 on the arms 66 travel in the cam slots H3, and cause the arms 66 tobe moved upwardly or downwardly, depending on which way the ring I91 isbeing turned, and move the teeth 99 of lock bolt member 61 into or outof mesh with the teeth 9 I. This same movement of the transfer ring I91moves the lock pin bolt I99 in the opposite direction to that of thearms 93, due to the engagement of the pin I I1 in slot I I4.

The top of the transfer ring I91 has two recesses II8 which registerwith lugs II9 on the bottom of the transfer ring operating knob I29. Acover I2I, centrally apertured to fit on the transfer ring, is held downon said ring, under the operating knob I29, by a lock nut I 22 which isscrewed on the steering wheel post 55. The nut I22 holds the knob I29and cover I2! tightly down against the hub 58 of the lock base 59 on thetapered end of the steering post 55, the operating knob I29 and transferring I91 being rotatable by reason of the engagement of the lugs I I9 ofthe knob in the recesses II8 of the transfer ring I91.

The lock nut I22 has two wrench holes I23 extending vertically throughthe nut and a countersunk hole I24 to receive a screw for fastening thenut I22 to the hub 58 after the nut I22 has been screwed tightly on thesteering wheel post, to insure immobility of the nut I22. On the underside of the nut I22 is an ofiset, notched at I26 to receive the top ofthe lock bolt I99 in one of the notches. The nut I22 cannot be turned toremove it until the locking parts are unlocked and the bolt I98 is inits downward position by the turning of the transfer ring.

A series of ten buttons I39 is shown (Figs. 1-12). They are identicalexcept that they are numbered 1 to 9 inclusive, and zero, respectively.The construction of one button will be described. It comprises a hollowstud I3I fixed on the base BI of the housing. Inverted cup members oftwo diameters I32, I33, are connected together so that the smaller oneis sleeved on the stud I3I and the large part forms a button to bedepressed by the fingers. Within the stud is a spring I34 which normallyholds the button members I32 and I33 in raised position. The cover I2Ihas ten guards I35, cylindrical in shape, and slotted to allow leveroperating pins I36 on the buttons to move up and down in the guards invertical paths, when the buttons are depressed.

Also on the base plate BI, between adjacent buttons I39, is a series oflever supporting posts I31. A slotted bell crank lever I39 is pivotallymounted at I39 on the post I31 by screw and nut I49. The pin I39 extendsthrough the slotted end of lever I38. Said lever is bent at I4I toaccommodate the form of the button. On the other end of the lever I38 ispivotally connected a pulling hook I42 which engages a slotted pullingring I43 having slots I44, one for each pulling hook for each button.The lever I38 has a stop I45 formed as shown in Fig. 12 which preventsthe operator from depressing adjacent buttons. I49 is a stop on the postI31 for the lever I39.

The pulling ring I43 has a horizontal bottom flange which has slots I41into which extend pins I48 fixed in the plate GI. Springs I49 areattached to the side Wall of the ring I43 at I59 and to the pins I48.The upright wall of the ring I43 has ten of the slots I44, through whichthe pulling hooks I42 extend and either pull the ring or slide in theslots. The ring I43 is held down on the base plate (H by screws I5Iwhich extend through slots I41 so that the pulling ring I43 can berotated a slight distance in. one direction and is automaticallyreturned by the springs I49.

On the inner vertical wall of the pulling ring I43 is attached a camlever I52 pivotally mounted at I53. The lever I52 has on its free end apawl or cam I54 and on its side a transfer pin I55. A spring I5",attached to the pulling ring wall I43, bears down on the cam lever I52and when the pulling ring is moved from left to right (Fig. 13) bypressing a button I39, the cam I54 drops from the slot I 51 in thebottom wall of the pulling ring I43 into a longer slot I59 in the baseplate 3I. When the lever is in said lowered position, the transfer pinI55 engages the first of the teeth 18 and thus moves the combinationtransfer ring 15 one-fortieth of its periphery, clockwise.

To assemble the parts heretofore described,-

the buttons I30 and their levers I38 and pulling hooks I42, with thelever supports I3I,; are mounted on the base plate 6I within the housing5I. The pulling ring I43 is mounted on said base just inside of thebuttons (Figs. 9-12), the ring I43 having limited rotative movement onthe base 6|. The base 6| is screwed to the base 62 which is rigidlyconnected tothe housing 46. The lock bolt member 6! is inserted into thelock base, 59, with the arms .66 in the fer ring spring I6 is'connectedto the ring I5 on its inner side wall and the other end is connected toa hook I59 on the lock base 59 (see Fig.

34), and the ring I5 is placed down on the lock base 59-65, with the cam11 resting in the curved groove I60 which limits the movement of thecombination transfer ring I5.

Then the lock ring 96 is positioned on the lock base 50 so that thetooth 'II of the member 16 registers with and projects: upwardly throughthe notch 91 in the bottom of the lock ring 96. The ring is then screweddown on the base 59, by countersunk screws. The lock ring 96 holds thetransfer ring 15 and member I0 down on the base lock 59-65 withoutinterfering with the rotation of the combination transfer ring I5.

Next the unlock ring ml is loosely placed within the lock ring 96, withthe pin I03 in the slot 99 of the'lock ring 96, so the unlock ring I 0|can rotate to the extent of the slot 99.

' The lock nut bolt I08 is placed against the inside of the transferring, with the pin II1 projecting outwardly through the slot II4. Thenthe transfer ring I01 and bolt I08 are placed over the hub 58 of thelock base59, with the bolt I08 between the ribs I09, as shown in Fig.39, and

with the cut away part II2 of the flange III positioned to receive thepin I04 on the unlock ring I 0|, so that when the transfer ring I 01 isrotated, it can move a certain distance independently and later movesthe unlock ring IOI with .it, when the pin I04 engages the flange III atthe end of the cut away part II 2. The screws II 5 are screwed into theholes H6 in the arms 66 of the lock bolt member 61, with the heads ofthe'screws in the slots II 3 in the transfer ring I01. This allows thetransfer ring to be turned relatively to the hub 58, a distance limitedby the length of the slots H3, and the turning of the ring I0I thusraises or lowers the toothed member 61 by the arms 66.

Next the combination setting ring 80 is placed over the combination ringI5, but before doing so, the setting devices 83 are positioned on thering80 according to the selected combination. In the drawings, I haveshown the lock set for the'combination 1876. We will refer tothe fourdigits of the combination as the first, second, third and fourthnumbers. If the first number happens to be 1-, then the setting device83a is placed over the hole marked 1 in the section marked for button 1.L. the second num- The cam and tooth member I0 ber is 8, then anothersetting device, 83b, is placed over the hole marked 2 in button number 8section. If the third number is 7, then another setting device, 830, isplaced over the hole marked 3 in the section for button7. If the fourthdigit is 6, then another setting device, 8311, is placed over the holemarked 4 inthe section for button 6. The numbers on the ring near theouter edge are the ten but ton numbers, running clockwise, and the tengroups of numbers, 1 to 4, near the inner edge, indicate the order ofthe digits of the combination, and run counter-clockwise. In Fig, 17,

the four setting devices 83 are shown as set for s the combination 1876.The bolts 92 extend through the holes BI and a rib on the bottom of thedevice housing 83 fits in a groove 82 on the ring 89, to hold thesetting devices in position when the nut 93 is tightened. V

The combination setting ring 80, with setting devices 83 in place, isthen positioned on the combination transfer ring I5, with the pins I9fitted into the registering holes 94in ring 80. Screws are used tofasten the two rings together, by using any three or four free holes 8Iand registering holes in the ring I5. See Fig. 2, indicating thepositions of the devices 83 relatively to the buttons. 1, 8, '7 and 6which must be operated for this combination, as will be explained.

Next the steering wheel with housing 46 and lock parts assembled thereinare placed over the steering post 55, with the keyway 51 of lock basehub fitting on key 56 on the steering post, the bottom of the housingfitting into the grooved collar 49. The cover I2I is placed over thetopof the housing, with the guards I 35 around the buttons I 30. Thecover ispushed down, as shown in Fig. 3, and then the transfer ringoperating knob I20 is positioned with its lugs I I9 engaging therecesses II8'0f the transfer ring I 61. Then the lock nut I22 ,isscrewed on to the top end of the steering post 55 and bears down on theknob I20 and housing top -I2I, and holds the housing firmly against theballs in the collar 53. The lock nut bolt IIBengages one of the notchesI26 on the bottom of the lock nut I22, when'it has been screwed down,and thereafter a screw may be placed in the hole I24to connect the locknut to the top of the hub 58. .Finally, a horn button I6I and a threadedring I62 are placed as shown in'Fig. 3. The ring holds the horn buttonon the lock nut.

When assembled as described, the mechanism' cannot be disassembled whilelocked because the lock nut bolt I08 is in its upward position, engagingone of the notches I26 on the under side of the lock nut I22. To movethe bolt I08 out of engagement, it is necessary to unlock the lock bymeans of the combination, and then manually turning the transfer ringoperating knob I20 clockwise.

Assume the lock to be unlocked, and the teeth 5I on the steering columnand teeth 68 on the lock bolt member 61 to be out of mesh as shown inFig. 3. their uppermost position in the hub 58, as in Fig. 3. To lookthe mechanism, the buttons corresponding to the combination numbers mustbe pressed downwardly, successively, in the order of the number.

The operation of a button will now be described. When a button I30 isdepressed fully, it has moved Pressing of a button causes the pullingring I 43 to be rotated by the lever I38 In that position, the arms 66are in and pulling hook I42. This movement causes the cam lever I52 todrop into the slot I58 and at the same time the pin I55 engages thefirst one of the teeth I8 on the combination transfer ring I5, and movesit and the combination setting ring 80 one-fortieth of theircircumference, clockwise. Assuming the correct button has been operated,that is, the first of the numbers of the combination, the device 83awill move past the lever operating pin I36 of the pressed button, andthe lever 86 will be swung from left to right, releasing the hook lever9!, and allowing the drop lever 88 to engage a notch I in the lock ring96. This will be understood by reference to Fig. 2, where buttonnumbered 1, if pressed, will move the rings I and 80, as explained, andthereby move the device 83a to the pin I36 on button 1, and as the pinmoves down with the button, the lever 86 on device 83a is swung, asexplained, to move the drop lever 88 into a notch of the lock ring 96.The other three combination devices, 835, 83c and 83d, will also havebeen moved with the ring 80 one step nearer their buttons.

The combination transfer ring I5 and other parts mentioned will be heldin the advanced position by the drop lever 08, ready for the next buttonmovement, but as soon as the depressed button is released, the pullingring automatically returns to its normal original position and pin I55is released from the tooth I8.

When the second button, in this case button 8, is depressed, the samemovement of the pulling ring I43 takes place as before, but this timethe pin I55 on cam lever I52 engages the second tooth I8 on ring I5,moving the combination transfer ring I5 a second step, clockwise. Thiscauses the drop lever of device 8311 to move up on the 45 edge of thenotch I00 in ring 96 and allows the hook lever 9| to re-engage the droplever and hold it in raised position, out of the notch of the ring 96;and at the same time, the device 83b will be moved opposite button 8 anddrop lever 88 of device 8313 will drop into a notch of the ring 96 andbe held there until the third button is depressed. The same cycle ofmovements will take place when the third button, in this case button '7,and the fourth button, in this case button 6, are successivelydepressed. It will be understood that the devices 830 and 83d will havebeen moved from the positions shown in Fig. 2 to positions oppositetheir respective buttons as heretofore explained in connection with theother two devices, 83a and 83?).

When the fourth step or advance of the combination transfer ring I5 hastaken place, by depressing the fourth button of the combination, the camII on the inner edge of ring I5 will have moved from the position shownin Fig. 5 to a position where it contacts with the cam I2 of the memberI0, thereby depressing the member I0 and releasing the tooth II from thegroove I I0 of the transfer ring I0I, thereby allowing the transfer ringI0? to be turned manually by means of the operating knob I20. In lockingthe lock, the knob I20 is turned counter-clockwise, thereby moving thearms 66 downwardly in the hub 58, and meshing the teeth 68 with teeth 5|on the steering column sleeve 41. The same movement of the transfer ringI0I by the knob I20 moves the lock nut bolt I08 upwardly into a notchI26 on the lock nut I22, and when the transfer ring flange III engagesthe pin I04 on the unlocking ring I0 I, it carries the unlock ring withit a short distance, so that the cam edges I06 lift up the drop lever ofthe device 83d, and the combination transfer ring I5 and ring 80 returnto original position, where the transfer ring I0! is engaged by thetooth II in one of the grooves H0 and again held in stationary position.

To unlock the lock, the buttons corresponding with the combinationnumbers must be depressed, successively, in the order of the number;then the operating knob must be turned clockwise, which moves thetransfer ring I0'I also clockwise, pulls the arms 66 upwardly and movesthe teeth 68 out of mesh with the teeth 5I.

Assume that one, two or three of the buttons have been correctlyoperated and that then a Wrong button is depressed. The effect of thiswill be that the drop lever of the last device 83 previously operatedwill be raised by moving out the notch of the locking ring 96 and sincethe wrong button will not operate any device 83,'

there will be nothing to hold the combination transfer ring I5 and itwill return to original position by reason of the spring I6.

Even if the four buttons of the combination have been correctlydepressed, and a fifth button is then depressed, the combinationtransfer ring I5 will be moved a fifth step by the cam lever I52engaging the fifth button I8 on ring I5 and that step will cause thedrop lever of the fourth device 83d to be raised by moving out of thenotched ring 96, and being held raised by its hook lever 9|, the ring I5will be released and return to original position.

To enable the owner to change the combination, he must unlock themechanism by means of the right combination buttons and by operating theknob I20; then he can remove the lock nut I22 and the housing cover HIand can take out the screws which hold the combination setting ring 80on the combination transfer rmg I5, remove the ring 80, and reset thedevices 83 as he desires.

The buttons cannot be depressed simultaneously because the stop I45 onthe elbow lever I38 prevents an adjacent button from being fullydepressed. (See position of button 8 in Fig. 10.)

The brake It on lock base 59 engages the inside of the combinationtransfer ring I5 near the end of its return movement and prevents thecam 11 of the ring I5 from hitting hard the wall at the end of therecess I60 when the ring I5 returns to original position under power ofspring I6.

The cam and tooth member I0 is referred to in the claims as a retainingmember because it prevents rotation of the manually operable transferring I07 on the base 59.

Changes may be made in details of construction and adaptation of thelock to devices other than steering wheels, without departing fromthescope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A combination lock comprising cooperating locking members at leastone of which is movable relatively to the other to lock and unlock saidmembers, a housing for the movable member, a series of depressiblebuttons mounted in the housing, and operative connections between saidbuttons and the movable cooperating locking member, said movable memberbeing actuatable, alternately, to locked position by depressing cer tainpredetermined buttons and to unlocked position by depressing the samebuttons.

2. A combination lock comprising a fixed locking member, a housingrotatably mounted on the fixed locking member, an axially movablelocking member mounted in the housing to rotate with the housing, aseries of depressible buttons mounted in the housing, and operativeconnections between the buttons and the movable locking member foractuating said member, said movable locking member" being actuatable bydepressing and releasing a plurality of said buttons, successively, inpredetermined order.

3. A combination lock comprising a housing, a

locking bolt movably mounted in the housing, a

4. A combination lock comprising a housing, a

locking bolt-movably mounted in the housing, a plurality of depressiblebuttons in the housing, and operative connections between the buttonsand said movable locking bolt for actuating the bolt, saidoperativeconnections including a lever operating pin on each button.

5. A combination lock comprising a housing, a locking bolt movablymounted in the housing, a plurality of depressible buttons in thehousing, and operative connections between the buttons and said movablelocking bolt for actuating the bolt, said operative connectionscomprising a pulling ring, a fixed support adjacent each button, a bellcrank lever pivotally mounted on each support, a hook on each of saidlevers engaging the-pulling ring, and a lever operating pin on eachbutton for actuating the lever and pulling ring. 6-. A combination lockcomprising cooperating locking members at least one of which is movablerelatively to the other to lock and unlock said members; a housing forthe movable member, a'

series of depressible buttons mounted in the housing, a lock base andhub fixedly mounted in the housing, said movable. cooperating lockingmember being axially slidable in said base and hub, a manually rotatablemember on the hub connected to the movable cooperating locking member,retaining means between the lock base and manually rotatable member forpreventing rotation of said member, and operative connections betweensaid buttons and said retaining means for releasing said retainingmeans'and permitting manual rotation of said rotatable member, saidrotatable member being actuatable by depressing and releasing aplurality of said buttons, successively, in predetermined order.

7. A combination lock comprising a housing, a series of depressiblebuttons in the housing, a combination transfer ring rotatably mounted inthe housing and actuated by said buttons, a lock base and hub fixed inthe housing, an axially movable lock bolt member in the hub, a camslotted transfer ring rotatable on the hub and rotatably secured to thelock bolt member, and retaining means between the lock base and said camslotted transfer ring, actuated by said combination transferring,retaining the cam slotted transfer ring immovably on said lockbase.

'8. A combination lock comprising a housing, a series of depressiblebuttons in the housing, a combination transferring rotatably mounted inthe housing and actuated bysaid buttons, a lock base and hub fixed inthe housing, an axially movable lock bolt member in the hub, a camslotted transfer ring rotatable on the hub and ro-' tatably securedtothe lock bolt member, retaining means between the lock base and saidcam slotted transfer ring, actuated by saidcombination transfer ring,and a manually operable knob on the cam slotted transfer ring forrotating said 7 combination transferring rotatable in the housing, acombination setting ring connected to the combination transfer ring,means on the pulling ring for engaging the combination transfer ring androtating it in a step by step movement, a locking ring, means on thecombination setting ring for engaging the locking ring and holding thecombination transfer ring in advanced position when certain buttons havebeen actuated, and an unlocking ring within the locking.

ring.

10. A combination lock com-prising a housing, a locking bolt movablymounted in the housing, a series of buttons depressibly mounted in thehousing, operative connections between the buttons and said lockingbolt, and means for preventing simultaneous actuation of adjacentbuttons.

'1 In a combination look, a rotatably mounted combination setting ringand a series of numbered buttons, the combination setting ring beingmarked to indicate uniform circumferential sections corresponding to thesaid buttons, and each of said sections being marked to indicateuniformly spaced portions of each section equal in number to the digitsof the combination.

12. In a combination look, a rotatably mount- 'ed combination settingring and a series of numbered buttons, the combination setting ringbeing marked to indicate uniform circumferential sections correspondingto the said buttons, and each of said sections being marked to indicateuniformly spaced portions of each section equal in number to the digitsof the combination, one of said series of markings being locatedadjacent the periphery of the ring and the other series of markingsbeinglocated adjacent the inner edge of the ring and running counter tothe first mentioned markings.

13-. Ina combination lock, a series of depressible buttons numbered 1 to9, inclusive, and zero, a rotatably mounted combination setting ringprovided with equi-distantly spaced holes equal in number to ten timesthe digits of the combination selected, said ring being marked toindicate-ten equal groups of holes, corresponding with the buttonnumbers, respectively, and the holes of each group being numberedsuccessively, from oneto the number of digits in the combination.

14. In a combination look, a combination setting ring, setting devicessecured to said ring in selected positions, a locking ring adapted to beengaged by said setting devices, depressible buttons, operativeconnections between the buttons and combination setting ring forrotating the ring, and means on the buttons for engaging the settingdevices on the combination setting gimme ring and causing them to engagethe locking ring.

15. In a combination lock, a combination setting ring, a combinationlocking ring and setting devices located in selected positions on thecombination setting ring, said devices comprising a housing, a droplever pivotally mounted on the housing, a shaft having a hook lever atone end for retaining the drop lever in raised position, and anoperating lever on the other end of the shaft for rocking the shaft,releasing the hook lever from the drop lever, and permitting engagementbetween the drop lever and combination locking ring.

16. A combination lock comprising a housing, a series of depressiblebuttons in the housing, a combination transfer ring rotatably mounted inthe housing and actuated by said buttons, a lock base and hub fixed inthe housing, an axially movable lock bolt member in the hub, meansactuated by the combination transfer ring for permitting the lock boltmember to be manually moved, means for automatically returning thecombination transfer ring to initial position, and a brake between thelock base and combination transfer ring.

17. A combination lock comprising a fixed cylindrical member havingteeth on one end, a housing rotatable relatively to the cylindricalmember, a lock base and hub fixedly mounted in the housing, a toothedlock bolt mounted in the lock base and hub and movable axially into andout of engagement with the teeth on the cylindrical member, a series ofdepressible buttons in the housing, and operative connections betweenthe buttons and the toothed lock bolt for moving said member whencertain of said buttons have been depressed successively.

18. A combination lock comprising a housing, a locking bolt movablymounted in the housing, a plurality of buttons depressibly mounted inthe housing, operative connections between the buttons and the lockingbolt including a lateral projection on each button, and a cover closingthe housing, said cover having openings in its face registering withsaid buttons and guards surrounding said openings, the guards beingslotted to accommodate the lateral projections on said buttons.'

19. An automobile lock comprising a cupshaped housing adapted to bemounted concentrically in the steering wheel of an automobile, aplurality of buttons depressibly mounted in the housing and movable indirections parallel with the axis of the wheel, a locking boltconcentrically mounting in the housing, operative connections betweenthe buttons and said looking bolt, and an apertured cover closing theopen top of the cup-shaped housing and permitting manual depression ofsaid buttons.

20. An automobile lock comprising a cupshaped housing adapted to bemounted concentrically in the steering wheel of an automobile, a lockbase fixedly mounted in the housing,

means on the lock base for non-rotatably mounti ing it on a steeringpost, a locking bolt concentrically mounted and axially movable in thelock base, a plurality of buttons depressibly mounted in the housing,operative connections between the buttons and locking bolt, and means onthe locking bolt for engaging a fixed cooperating locking member on thesteering post column of an automobile.

21. An automobile lock comprising a housing adapted to be mountedconcentrically in the steering wheel of an automobile, a toothedcylindrical member adapted to be fixedly mounted on the steering postcolumn of an automobile with the toothed portion extending into thebottom of the housing, a lock base fixed in the housing, means fornon-rotatably fixing the lock base to the steering post of anautomobile, a toothed locking bolt concentrically mounted and axiallymovable in the lock base, means for actuating the locking bolt towardand from the toothed cylindrical member, a lock nut adapted to bemounted on the steering post and a lock nut bolt movably mounted in saidlock base.

JOHN PFENDNER.

